Butter dispensing machine



June 14, 1949.

L. HERBER BUTTER DISPENSING MACHINE 4 Shets-Sheet 5 Filed Feb. 25, 1946 /%4% At'born June 14, 1949. L. HERBER BUTTER DISPENSING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Feb. 25, 1946 1 Ni 1 x/ 1 Fig 75 comprising an outer casing l0. While casing ll! might take various forms, in the embodiment of the invention illustrated, it is shown as substantially rectangular in horizontal and vertical cross section having vertical side walls Illa, a top wall or cover Iflb, and a bottom wall We. Said walls comprise spaced plates between which some good heat insulating material H, such as cork, is placed. A flange Hid, substantially rectangular in horizontal cross section, extends downwardly from the sides of casing I below the lower wall We to form a supporting means, and said flange is cut away at the central portions of the sides thereof to form corner legs me. The top wall [0b may be in the form of a removable lid or cover, the same having a, flange 18f extending downwardly thereabout adapted to fit around the sides Illa and having an inner flange lllg adapted to rest on the top of the side walls Illa. Cover Iflb is preferably provided with a handle I0 which can conveniently be connected to the top plate of cover Hlb by screws I2 engaging washers l2a. One side wall [0a is provided with an opening preferably rectangular in shape extending to bottom wall I00 in which a door l3 tightly fits, the same having a flange l3a over-lapping the side wall about said opening. Door l3 will preferably be provided with a suitable handle l4. Handle I4 is shown as having threaded studs extending through the wall of door l3, the same being provided with nuts l5 overlying washers l6 engaging the inner side of door l3. Casing It also has an opening I010 at one side adjacent its top which may be called the front side, which opening is closed by a pair of doors laswingable on hinges 19 at their remote sides so that they open away from each other. Doors I8 meet at their free edges when in closed position and are provided with suitable handles 18a. An inner casing 21 is provided having an outer wall He extending along the inner side of rear wall Illa and along opposite side walls [0a, as shown in Fig. 4. Casing 2! has an inner wall Zlb which at its lower portions extends parallel to the outer Wall 2 la but which is semi-cylindrical at its central portion, as shown in Fig. 2. A chamber is thus formed within the inner wall 211) which is open at its bottom. Casing 2| has a bottom portion 2lc at one end which slopes downwardly toward one side of casing ID and casing 2| at said side is provided with drain spouts and openings 2ld. Casing 2! is supported upon angle members 22 and 23 secured in any suitable manner as by welding to the inner plates of side walls Ida. A receptacle 25, illustrated as rectangular in horizontal and vertical cross section, has a flanged bottom resting on bottom plate ice and the same has its open upper end disposed beneath the spouts and openings 2ld. Receptacle 25 is of such size that it can be readily removed through the opening closed by door I3. The inner wall 211) of casing 24 extends upwardly above the tops of the side walls a, the same having a shoulder extending a. slight distance over said tops and the upper edge of said wall is disposed so as to be substantially engaged by the bottom of cover Hlb.

A bracket 28 is provided having a bottom flange resting on bottom wall I00 and secured thereto by headed bolts 29. Bracket 28 has at one end a bearing 23a in which one end of a shaft 30 is journaled, the other end of said shaft being journaled in a bearing 3| extending through front wall Md and having a flange engaging the outer.

side ofsaid wall and secured thereto by headed screws 32. Shaft 30 has secured thereto a memher 34. Member 34 comprises end members 340'. having peripheral flanges of octagonal shape, as shown in Fig. 2, and as having end flanges at their remote ends. One end member 34a has a central hub 341) connected to its end flange which is in turn secured to shaft 30. The other end member 34a is engaged at its outer side by the flange 35a of a member 35 having a hub the end of which engages the inner side of bearing 28a and which hub is secured to shaft 36 in any suitable manner, as by a set screw 36. Secured to the outer sides of the peripheral flanges of members 34a in any suitable manner, as by welding, are a plurality of casings or chambers 38. Members 38 are shown as formed of sheet material or metal and each is substantially rectangular in cross section and provided with an open side 38a. Each member 33 has a small plate or disk 39 secured to its outer side, which disk has an opening therein adapted to receive the end of a pin 40 which is carried in and longitudinally movable in actsing 4! extending through one wall Illa and havingan outer flange lla secured to said wall by headed and nutted bolts 42 having their heads countersunk in said flange. Casing 4| has a cylindrical chamber therein and pin 40 has a collar 40a substantially fitting in said chamber and engaged at one end by compression coiled spring 43 which surrounds pin 46 and engages at its other end the end of casing 43. Pin 40 at its outer end is provided with a knurled knob or handle 44. Membars 38 are shown as braced and connected by gusset plates 45. A handle 41 is connected to the end of shaft 3|! at the front side of casing H], the same engaging the outer'end of bearing 3! and being secured to shaft 38 in any suitable manner, as by a pin 48. Handle 41 is in the form of a crank having a handle portion 41a. It will be seen that rotation of handle 41 and shaft 30 will rotate member 34 and members 38 carried there- It will be seen that members 38 can successively be brought into the lowermost position of member 34, in which position they are adjacent chain 54 and extend substantially parallel to one side thereof. Shaft 52 at its other end has secured thereto a helical gear 51 with which meshes a helical gear 58 secured to a shaft 60 journaled in bearings 490 of bracket 49. Shaft 60 also has secured thereto a ratchet wheel Bl. A pawl 62 has its pointed end disposed in engagement with ratchet wheel BI and is pivotally carried at the end of an arm 63 journaled on a shaft 64 journaled in bearings 66a of a bracket 66 secured to bottom wall I00 by headed screws 61. Pawl 62 is connected to arm 63 by a pivot pin 68. A plate spring 59 engages pawl 62 to hold it in contact with pawl 52. Secured to shaft 64 is. a frame 10 comprising a top bar 10a having downwardly extending portions between which extends a taut fine wire H. Framelfl comprises a plate 10b moving adjacent arm 63 and having an arcuate slot 10c therein concentric with shaft 64 in which Bracket 28 has a bearing 28!) in which is jour extends a pin. 12. secured; to arm 6.3;. The move?- ment of: arm: 63- islimited by a. headedv screw 154: secured; in. wall la and; provided with a. loch: 10!! jambnut [5. Screw I4 is. adapted to engagethe lower end. of arm 6.3;. Arm 63 has an; upwardly extending projection 63av adapted to engage the end. of: a screw it. secured in the wall. Ito: and; pro; vided with. a lock or jamb. nut 1.1.. Screws: M. and. 16. can be. suitably adjusted to. the desired. position. A handle I8. is secured to one end of. shaft 60..- at. the. front side of" casing; Ill; any suitable manner, as by'a pin l9- Handle 18 is: in the fornr of a crank: and is provided with a handle 18w. R tensile coiled spring- 82. has one end secured. to: bar Mini and; its other and. upper end secured to a. lug on a plate: 83. secured to the inner side of wall liminany suitable manner,. as: by' welding; The bottom. wall. Illa is provided with. an. opening-.- Izllm into which fits a. guideor'funneli 84 having. its upper end disposed below the end ot the lowermost member 33.. Guide brackets 85: aresecured' tothebottom of wall Illc: at each side of theopem ing: IIlm' havingflangess paced' from said wall and in. which. slides a. plate-likemember' 8.6;, Member 8.5. can be moved to positions: either to close. or open the: opening Him.

In operation a quantity of ice 98 will be placed in the chamber formedbetweerr casings I and-2 I This ice can be; conveniently placed in the device: by removing the cover 1b.. Doors I8 will. be. opened and blocks. of butter such as the: standard one-fourth pound blocks will be. placed in. the. chamber 38. It will bev seen from Fig. 1 that when doors I8 are open threev of the members 38 are: accessible: for loading. Crank' handle. 41: will be turneduntil all of the members 38 have been: brought in front of the opening. closed. by' doors: I8 and all have been loaded with butter. The: butter will be kept firm and hard by the; low temperature maintained incasing Ill by the: ice or other refrigerant 9B. It will be noted that'- members 38 pass closeto the wall: 2 I b of casing 21. so that they will be elficiently cooled; When. handle 4? is. to be turned for rotatingmember- 341 and members 38, the operator" will pul-l'outwardly upon. the. knob or handle. MI. which willz move pin. 40, outwardly against the resistance of spring: 4:3: and remove said pin from the; opening in: its member 39. When the members 38. are disposed-v as shown in Fig. 2, pin. it will be urged; into the. opening in member 39 which; is at the side of the device so that member 34 willbeheld from fiurther: rotation. The device is now ready to. cut and: dispense the. butter. The operator. will: depressor turn handle 18-, as indicated inFig; is When: this is done shaft 64 is turned and frame Ill: is: swung downwardly sothatwire I I moves: across: thefront of the member 38 inthe bottom position- The butter, which has beenv fed: to the position. shown in Fig. 3, will then have a slice or patent; from. its front end and this slice will drop into member 84. Member 86w1ll-be.moved touncover the opening in the bottom of member 84: so. that; the pat of butterv 91 will drop down and, may be received in a dish or tray 92'- placed: on theitabl'e: or othersupport on which the device rests. When frame Illmoves downwardly sufficiently sothat the left-hand end of. slot c, as seen. in Fig; 2;v engages pin I2, arm 63'will be moved in. a counter clockwise: direction and pawl 62 will be moved. backwardly to engage the next tooth. on ratchet. wheel 6|. Pawl 62 is.maintained.inzengagementi with ratchetwheel BI by the spring Mil Rear- Ward movement of arm, 63.- will be limited by thfi, screw it. When frame'lll swingsupwardlyeither" 6 under the influence: of; spring Morby the operator moving handle 18- back to; the full line position-v shown inFigt. 1, said: frame; will come into position above: the lower member 38. When the wire It has cleared. member 38-, the end. of slot 10c will again. engage: pin T2 and move'arm 63 in a 0100K? wise direction, thus causing pawl 62 tomove ratchet-wheel 61. the: distance: of. one tooth. This will: rotate gears. 85 and 51- and. turn. sprocket 53. to move. the; upper run of chain, 54 tothe right, as shown in Fig. The member 55 engaging theblock of butter 93, as: shown in- Flg. 3:, will now move said. block forwardly the desired. distance so;

that. it will; project. beyond. the: end. of its member 5 3-8;,asrshowhin Fig.3.. The upward movement of t'rarne wand. the clockwise movement of arm. 63: can be: determined; by the position of the stop screw 1-6. Itwilll be seen that chain 541s movable in one direction. which: causes the sprockets 51. .ahd52l and: the members 55 tomove in a. clock=- wise direction, as! shown in Fig. 3.. It. will also beiseen that-members 55.extend.through the opening 38a in the side: of each member 38:, dSaShOWlli in. Fig. 5;, and. that these. members 55' can enter the rear ends. of. members 38;. move therethrough and pass out. at the front ends thereof. When thesmachine. isfirst operated, the. crank handle 18E may have to; bemoved: several times to get the block of butter '93 into: position to be. out. As

5 inzFig. 4", the members 38- are' long enough.

to accommodate two standard quarter pound blocks of: butter: The? peripheral flange 3 lc on rear member 34 forms a. stop for the; blocks of butter 93 when they are: loaded into members; 38:. When. iceis; used. for the refrigerant: the water formed-by melting of. the samewill drain through openings; 21d andi. drop into receptacle This can: be. removed and emptied as snecessary by re= moving: door I 3 by means; of its handle. I l.

Fromitheaabove: description it. will be seen that I haveprovidedea compact, efficient and very conuenient: device for cutting and. dispensing pats of button. The; device can: be easily and rapidly operated. andiittis of Eat/convenient size for use in restaurants; hotels and; other. places where the pats of. butter are used. The structure is fairly simple: and there are no partswhich will. require any appreciable. attention: for maintenance- The device will be: nicely" painted or coated on theexterior-soi that it will have: a very pleasing ap peanance; It will be: apparent that the device will. have: a high degree of utility for the purpose m tended.

It. will. or course be: understood that various changesv may be made in the; form, details, ar-

rangement. and. proportions. oi the. parts; without departing from the scope of: appli-cants invertstion, which: generally stated, consists in an apparatus capablaof carrying; out. the objects above: set. fonthginthe" parts and combinations of parts disclosed and; defined in. the appended: claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A butter-dispensing machinevhaving in=combination, an outer casing havingv an insulated wall; an inner casing-1 within said casing forming a. chamber with: the wallthereof, saidinner casing. having a. semi-cylindrical: upper end,, a bottom for said chamber sloping towardone. side of said: outer. casing", said chamber having. a. drain openiii-g; at. said side, a receptacle: carried in said: outer. casing below saiddrain; opening, said outer casmg; having. a door through which said. receptacle can-.be removed, and a rotatable member having radially disposed. and: circumierentially' spaced? elongated chambers each. substantially rectangle lar in cross section and adapted to receive an elongated block of butter, said chambers being movable closely adjacent said semi-cylindrical portion of said inner casing to be cooled thereby.

2. A butter-dispensing machine having in combination, a member rotatable about a central longitudinal axis, a plurality of chambers carried by said member arranged in rachally disposed and circumferentially spaced position, each of said chambers being open at one side and adapted to receive and guide an elongated block of butter, a pair of sprockets, an endless chain running over said sprockets and having a side extending substantially parallel to said chambers, said chambers being successively positioned adjacent said side of said chain by rotation of said first mentioned member, butter-propelling members'carried by said chain adapted to extend through the open side of the chamber adjacent said chain,

enter one end thereof and pass'out at the other end thereof, said chain being movable only in one direction, a substantially three-sided swinging frame having an open side, a rectilinear wire secured at its ends in said frame and movable across the end of said chamber adjacent said chain, a handle, and means actuated by movement of said handle for swinging said frame to cut a slice of butter and means for then moving said frame upwardly and moving said chain and butter-propelling members a distance equal to the thickness of said slice.

3. A butter-dispensing machine having in combination, a member rotatable about a central longitudinal axis, a plurality of chambers carried by said member arranged in radially disposed and circumferentially spaced position, each of said chambers being open at one side and adapted to receive and guide an elongated block of butter, a pair of sprockets, an endless chain running over said sprockets and having a side extending substantially parallel to said chambers, said chambers being successively positioned adjacent said side of said chain by rotation of said first mentioned member, butter-propelling plates carried by said chain adapted to extend through the open side of the chamber adjacent said chain, enter one end thereof and pass out at the other end thereof, said chain being movable only in one direction, a swinging frame, a shaft at one side of said first mentioned member on which said frame is pivoted, a rectilinear wire carried by said frame and movable across the end of the chamber adjacent said chain, a spring acting to move said frame to its upper position, a handle, and means actuated by movement of said handle for swinging said frame downwardly to cause said wire to cut a slice of butter from the block of butter in said chamber adjacent said chain, the said frame being movable upwardly by said spring or by the operator moving said handle, and means actuated in the upper movement of said frame for moving said chain a distance equal to the thickness of said slice.

4. A butter-dispensing machine having in combination, a member rotatable about a central longitudinal axis, a plurality of chambers carried by said member arranged in radially disposed and circumferentially spaced position, each of said chambers being open at one side and adapted to receive and guide an elongated block of butter, 2. pair of sprockets, an endless chain running over said sprockets and having a side extending substantially parallel to said chambers, said chambers being successively positioned adjacent said side of said chain by rotation of said first mentioned member, butter-propelling members carried by said chain adapted to extend through the open side of the chamber adjacent said chain, enter one end thereof and pass out at the other end thereof, said chain being movable only in one direction, a swinging frame, a shaft at one side of said first mentioned member on which said frame is pivoted, a rectilinear wire carried by said frame and movable across the end of the chamber adjacent said chain, an arm secured to said shaft, said frame having a portion adjacent said arm with an arcuate slot therein concentric with the axis of said shaft, a pin secured in said first mentioned arm and extending into said slot, a ratchet wheel connected to one of said sprockets for intermittently moving the same, a pawl connected to said first mentioned arm and engaging said ratchet wheel, a handle connected to said shaft whereby the downward movement of said handle will swing said frame to cause said wire to cut a slice of butter from said block in said chamber adjacent said chain and after said frame has swung upwardly above said chamber said pin will be engaged by one end of said slot and swing said first mentioned arm and pawl to move said chain a distance equal to the thickness of said slice.

5. The structure set forth in claim 4, and a spring connected to said frame for swinging the same upwardly and actuating said arm.

6. The structure set forth in claim 4, and adjustable stops for determining the upper and lower positions of said frame.

7. A butter-dispensing machine having in combination, a member rotatable about a central longitudinal axis, a plurality of chambers carried by said member arranged in radially disposed and circumferentially spaced position, each of said chambers being open at one side and adapted to receive and guide an elongated block of butter, a pair of sprockets, an endless chain running over said sprockets and having a side extending substantially parallel to said chambers, said chambers being successively positioned adjacent said side of said chain by rotation of said first mentioned member, butter-propelling plates carried by said chain adapted to extend through the open side of the chamber adjacent said chain, enter one end thereof and pass out at the other end thereof, said chain being movable only in one direction, a swinging frame, a shaft at one side of said first mentioned member on which said frame is pivoted, a rectilinear wire carried by said frame and movable across the end of the chamber adjacent said chain, a handle for oscillating said shaft to move said frame and cause said wire to cut a slice of butter, and means operated by movement of said frame to move said chain and butter-propelling plates a distance equal to the thickness of said slice.

8. The structure set forth in claim 7, and a handle adjacent said handle for rotating said first mentioned member.

9. A butter-dispensing machine having in combination, a casing having a, front wall and a top said front wal1 spaced from said top wall adja-- cent the ends of said chambers and a movable closure for said opening secured to said casing, said opening exposing the ends of a plurality of said chambers whereby a plurality of said chambers may be loaded by placing said blocks therein by a movement alined longitudinally with said chambers.

10. The structure set forth in claim 9, said member having an octagonal periphery to which said chambers are secured, said opening exposing three of said chambers.

11. A butter-dispensing machine having in combination, a member rotatable about a central longitudinal axis, a plurality of chambers carried by said member arranged in radially disposed and circumferentially spaced position, each of said chambers being open at one side and adapted to receive and guide an elongated block of butter, a pair of sprockets, an endless chain running over said sprockets and having a side extending substantially parallel to said chambers, said chambers being successively positioned adjacent said side of said chain by rotation of said first mentioned member, butter-propelling plates carried by said chain adapted to extend through the open side of the chamber adjacent said chain and move butter therein, a swinging frame, a shaft at one side of said first mentioned member on which said frame is pivoted, a rectilinear wire carried by said frame and movable across the s end of the chamber adjacent said chain, a spring acting to move said frame to its upper position, a handle, and means actuated by movement of said handle for swinging said frame downwardly to cause said wire to cut a slice of butter from the block of butter in said chamber adjacent said chain, the said frame being movable upwardly by said spring or by the operator moving said handle, and means actuated in the upper movement of said frame for moving said chain a distance equal to the thickness of said slice.

12. A butter-dispensing machine having in combination, a member rotatable about a central longitudinal axis, a plurality of chambers carried by said member arranged in radially disposed and iii v 10 circumferentially spaced position, each of said chambers being open at one side and adapted to receive and guide an elongated block of butter, a pair of sprockets, an endless chain running over said sprockets and having a side extending substantially parallel to said chambers, said chambers being successively positioned adjacent said side of said chain by rotation of said first mentioned member, butter-propelling members carried by said chain adapted to extend through the open side of the chamber adjacent said chain for moving butter therethrough, a shaft at one side of said first mentioned member on which said frame is pivoted, a rectilinear wire carried by said frame and movable across the end of the chamber adjacent said chain, an arm secured to said shaft, said frame having a portion adjacent said arm with an arcuate slot therein concentric with the axis of said shaft, a pin secured in said first mentioned arm and extending into said slot, a ratchet wheel connected to one of said sprockets for intermittently moving the same, a pawl connected to said first mentioned arm and engaging said ratchet wheel, a handle connected to said shaft whereby the downward movement of said handle will swing said frame to cause said wire to cut a slice of butter from said block in said chamber adjacent said chain and after said frame has swung upwardly above said chamber said pin will be engaged by one end of said slot and swing said first mentioned arm and pawl to move said chain a distance equal to the thickness of said slice.

LEONARD HERBER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,188,997 Roberts June 27, 1916 1,206,233 Lekas Nov. 28, 1916 1,207,942 Lehmann Dec. 12, 1916 1,827,251 Meyer Oct. 13, 1931 

